The Concept of Chimerism in Humans

Chimerism refers to the presence of two or more genetically distinct cell lines within a single organism. A fascinating case was discussed involving a woman who, despite giving birth to three children, was initially found not to be their biological mother based on DNA tests. It turned out that she was a chimera, having absorbed cells from a twin during her development, resulting in different DNA profiles in various tissues of her body. This challenging situation raised profound questions about identity and the boundaries of self, as parts of her were genetically distinct from the rest.